Last Saturday, the Asheville Art Museum celebrated what’s next for the organization at its annual benefit gala, aptly named NEXT.

With more than 250 in attendance at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel, guests were treated to signature cocktails, gourmet food stations and a live auction featuring a diverse selection of fine art and unique vacation packages, as well as a Fund-a-Need that helps the museum create community through art.

"The Fund-a-Need is a way to highlight the fact that this is a benefit gala, whether somebody wants to donate $50 or $500," said Jen Swanson, communications manager at the museum. "We read out a list of things supporting the museums exhibitions and programs — from very small things like crayons for a children's art program to large donations, like fancy projection equipment for a new exhibit.

"It's a great alternative way for people to participate," Swanson continued. "There might be a painting during the auction that's valued at $5,000, and plenty of bidders will be raising their paddles — but, of course, there are many donors who can't afford to spend $5,000. So (Fund-a-Need) is a way for them to raise $50 or $100. It's a way to show the donors: Here are all the ways that your money is helping the museum."

The auction, led by Lauren Brunk of Brunk Auctions, was a lively addition to the evening, featuring 18 actual items and the list of Fund-a-Need items up for bid. Bidders raised their paddles for sculptures, paintings, photographs, vacation packages and fine wine, raising more than $155,000 for the museum by the end of the night.

Among the works up for grabs in the auction were framed photographs by well-known local photographers, a handmade reclaimed oak and forged iron table, a weeklong vacation on St. Lucia at the Windjammer Landing Resort, two original paintings by local artists, a five-night stay at Seaside Estate in St. Andrews-by-the-Sea in Canada, a glass sculpture by Wes Hunting, a weeklong stay in California and an artful vacation in New York City.

The funds raised at the gala will help the museum to continue its public programming and exhibitions for the cultural enrichment of those living in or visiting Western North Carolina.

The centerpieces featured on tables throughout the room were created by well-known and celebrated local artists, and guests were allowed to purchase the centerpieces from the tables at the end of the evening. Centerpiece sales revenue will go to both the artists and the museum.

"People were just loving that they could buy the centerpieces," Swanson said. "They were being purchased left and right, and represented the great breadth of the talent we have here in Asheville."

Raffle tickets for the gala's “dream bar" prize sold out, and one lucky guest, Anne Kimmel, won more than $3,500 worth of premium liquor, handcrafted glassware and bar tools.

The museum had encouraged its patrons to dress in creative attire for the event, in styles reflecting what’s new in art and fashion. Guests took on that challenge, arriving in playful and colorful clothing. Awards for “Most Creative Attire” were handed out to Nancy Ferguson, Robert and Alison Sipes, and Naomi and Jim Rodgers.

"It was very festive, and we had a lot of really great feedback from our guests," Swanson said. "It was very lively and fun, and I felt the atmosphere really reflected that it was an art event — and reflected the art community in general."

Gala committee chairman Kevin Hogan played a huge role in setting the scene for this year's NEXT, she added, reaching out to a wide array of artists for help in place-making at the gala.

"He coordinated these puppet heads outside at the venue in the patio area, and after the auction wrapped up, there was a DJ playing among these puppet heads — with these light projections on the wall. It was a very cool scene."

As locals and visitors may have noticed over the past few months, the Asheville Art Museum is in the midst of a construction and expansion project, and the funds raised at NEXT will help the organization continue to grow and offer exhibits and programming to the community.